Delta Air Lines has been forced to remind thousands of prospective flight attendants who are currently going through the Atlanta-based carrier’s latest recruitment drive that they must wear “proper undergarments” that aren’t visible in their interview.
The reminder was sent out in a leaked two-page document entitled “appearance requirements acknowledgment,” which explains in detail what candidates should look like when they turn up for an in-person assessment by Delta’s recruiters.
As well as telling applicants that “proper undergarments must be worn but must not be visible,” the document also reminds potential new-hire flight attendants that they should not use profanity during their interview and that chewing gum isn’t permitted throughout the assessment day.
Explaining why it is reminding applicants of how they should present themselves during the interview process, Delta tells lucky candidates who have made it this far in the recruitment process:
“The customer service experience begins the moment a Flight Attendant puts on their uniform. The Delta uniform represents always putting safety first, pride in the Delta culture and demonstrates a genuine graciousness that will be remembered by out customers.”
The letter adds: “To help ensure commitment to Delta’s brand and customer service we have created updated appearance requirements for your interview process.”
Along with wearing underwear, Delta has also taken the time to remind applicants that they must maintain their personal cleanliness and hygiene and that fingernails must be clean, neat, and trimmed. Interview clothing must be “professional and fit properly,” and skirts mustn’t be too short.
Applicants are allowed to have painted nails as long as they are all the same color and avoid neon shades, adornments, or glitter. They can also wear aftershave or perfume but only if “applied lightly”.
Unlike a growing number of airlines, Delta still bans visible tattoos, although flight attendants can still have tattoos if covered by the uniform or waterproof makeup. Covering tattoos with bandages is not, however acceptable.
As for hair, Delta says that it must be a “natural-looking hue” with no stark highlights or unnatural shades. The unisex guidelines also allow applicants to have a single side-nose piercing, as well as two earrings per ear, although hoops and ear stretchers are banned.
Delta reopened flight attendant recruitment for the first time in more than year on September 4 and the airline was so overwhelmed with the number of people eager to get a job with a carrier that its careers website kept on crashing because it was so inundated.
Before the pandemic, Delta used to boast that, statistically speaking, at least, it was easier to get into an Ivy League school than it was to become one of its flight attendants, so it’s perhaps little surprise that so many rushed to submit their application as soon as the recruitment window opened.
Delta was forced to reassure applicants that they would have plenty of time to submit their applications after rival United Airlines opened flight attendant recruitment for less than 24 hours in late August.
As well as Delta, American Airlines is also actively recruiting new flight attendants, with many candidates hedging their bets by applying for all three major airlines at the same time.
Seriously ???? You need to write this into policy ? Wow
How long until DL requires interviewees to leave their parents at home?
I don’t remember the last time I saw a female Delta flight attendant that was attractive, unless you’re into cougars and grandmas. There are some older women that are elegant for being in their 50s and 60s. I bet they were very attractive in their 20s. Even the men — not that I swing that way — aren’t that attractive. Most of the men, straight or gay, are 10-15 lbs. overweight.
I don’t remember the last time that I saw a sophisticated, decently dressed passenger, never mind attractive. Wait a minute, the phone is ringing – it’s 1968 and they want their sexism and wayyyyy outdated attitudes back.
triggered
Flight Attendants aren’t there for people to be “into”. Creeper.
As a diamond medallion you should know the attractiveness of your cabin crew is not relevant when it comes to safely evaluating your aircraft.
Well aren’t you just gross and a disgusting person.
Does Delta plan on checking if one is wearing underwear? If so, I need to go get some.
Skid marks are only allowed on the runway itself.
I need to get THAT job!
I don’t know if this whole story is pathetic or laughable but I can guarantee you for sure that the problem is not with the applicants but with Delta HR. Someone should train HR that customer service and hospitality is the reason whey they are getting exist.
As far as existing FAs – enormous majority of US based ones don’t take pride in their work or looks. I remember pursers in their 60s on Cathay Pacific with impeccable demeanor and uniform and an incredible passion to serve the customers. And that is then reflected to the rest of the cabin.
It seems ridiculous to me that with the acceptance rate lower than ivy league – that HR is incapable of picking almost any candidate that seems to care. But that’s the culture of US airlines.
my guess is that they have learned from past interviews of women that have a white shirt as a part of their outfit they chose to wear that shows off the obvious fact they don’t have on a bra. It shouldn’t have to be documented, but if people become obvious about it, then it has to be documented. It’s no different than the label they put on toaster ovens not to use it next to a bathtub…..people these days aren’t exactly the brightest
… or the men flopping in the faces of aisle-seated pax
Ok people been a flight attendant for 34 years and with 5 different carriers….this is not news! Was tougher 25 years ago when we had to be weighed weekly in training…had to have certain skin care products…just stop. So has society changed so much it’s wrong to ask these simple rules of prospective candidates? Again…stop! Our new hires obviously flout the rules after passing probation…tattoos ..multiple piercings and in your face attitudes to the more senior flight attendants. When I started we were respectful and enamored by the send crews…now it’s….”when are you going to retire?” A question with an eye roll. It’s way to easy for new hires…a simple and short “on call” system and they still complain the had to work there second Christmas at the company…I did not see my family for 14 years at Christmas! They knew I had to work. Some at my airline did a reserve status for over 12 years…not knowing where they would end up…time to report..or when they would get me. It took a long time for the job to be predictable….but new hires want it all now…and for the most part the coddling is in place. The flight attendant job is very different than 30 years ago…more disruptive passengers and coworkers anxious to report you to management to further their agenda. I weep.
I am absolutely stunned that Delta has had to do this.
I flew for Virgin Atlantic for many years and our grooming standards were very high and very strict. Grooming checks were also carried out in the briefing before every flight.
I remember without exception on my recruitment day that everyone was immaculate.
It is a sad day that prospective cabin crew need to be told what is acceptable attire and behaviour.
I volunteer to do the “no underwear grooming checks” for all female FA applicants 28 years old and younger. Just doing my part to help maintain DL standards 🙂
Underwear is not the issue
This is utter click bait and based on the comments people are falling for it. As some have pointed out in the comments, though, they were not “Forced” to do anything. Anyone who has worked in any high end customer service role (as airlines were at one time) will know these kind of requirements have been around from the get go. Twenty years ago I worked in a company where we trained people on how to properly wash and groom themselves. We didn’t “have to” it was just yet another way for the company to control the appearance of their staff (whatever you might think of that).
They shouldn’t warn them in advance. Just use the grooming and gum chewing as a screening tool to weed out the obvious idiots.
Why tell prospective employees how to dress? If they arrive wearing attire in poor taste, they aren’t fit for the job. Such an easy way to weed out the classless. Good grief…
We had the same rule for bus drivers in a school district I used to work in.
I find nothing wrong with some out of the box, nice, classy and clean looking flight attendants. Make sure you give them a dissent salary…
I would like my flight attendants, male and female, to dress like Sade ,the singer, trousers for both.
Ah, but if they can’t see the underwear, how will they know it’s appropriate? This is quite the conundrum.